Designing a home can be a difficult task, having blend together so many different factors together to create a functional and fulfilling design. This is somewhat simpler if you live on your own as each room can be designed to your specific tastes and needs. However, this becomes much more complicated if you are designing a family home.

This is because each member of the family will have their own unique tastes and needs, which is something that you will need to accommodate within your design ambitions. So, what should you do as a home designer and as a parent to ensure that your home is a comfortable and functional environment for the whole family.

Step 1 – Look at the home with real eyes

One of the bad habits of interior design is that people create room designs, which may look amazing on paper an even be magazine worthy. However, these room designs are not practical for everyday life, in fact more often than not create more restrictions and discomfort as a result.

This is why you should always approach designing a family with clear eyes, identifying areas which you can stretch your creativity and other areas where you may need to reign your creative ambitions.

Step 2 – Look at what each room is used for.

Each room in the home has its own unique identity, which can either be by design or by family circumstances. For, example the layout of your house may make it easier to enter through the back door which leads into the kitchen rather than the living room door.

Looking at this will allow you to see which features would work best in each room, for example laminate flooring may work great in your living room as its durable and user-friendly design is great for high traffic areas. On the other side of this, carpet may be preferable in the kid’s bedroom over wood flooring – owing to them enjoying playing on the floor.

Step 3 – Take into account family quirks

Each individual is unique, even when you live in the same household every member will have their own unique needs and requirements. For example, say you have taller members of the household – making sure that you keep an open and clear avoiding low hanging chandeliers for instance.

Step 4 A Future Proof Design

Of course creating a room and home design, it is easy just to take a snapshot in time and designing based on your current environment. However, when creating a new home design to benefit the whole family, it is important to consider the future as well.

This means creating a flexible and easy to modify home design which can adapt to any changes you and your family may go through. For example, you may have a spare room which you would like to use as a study. This is all well and good in the short term, however if you have young ones sharing the same room, at some point one of them will want their own space.

This is why your design for the study should be open and easy to adapt to, with sleek oak laminate flooring and simple wall coverings. So, when the day comes when you have to change your home study into a new bedroom, the transition will be almost seamless.

One or two bugs finding their way into your home isn’t too big a deal considering they probably followed you in or got lost. The real problem begins when you start seeing them recurring — something is a-miss. Suddenly, you’ve got a kitchen buzzing with fruit flies or you’re seeing structural damage to the side of the home!

We could say clean more but that’s common sense, right?

At any given time, there could be almost 100 different pests in your home. Yikes! That’s not going to fly so let’s get down to it and get rid of them once and for all.

The Most Common Household Pests

This all depends on your area but the most common pests you’ll find in a home (and the problems they bring) include:

Mice — Little rodents trying to find a cozy space to live but unfortunately carriers to problems like Lyme diseases, Typhus, and even Plague!

Roaches — Big ones, small ones, others that fly, these critters lurk in the dark corners and crevices of your home bringing along Gastroenteritis, Cholera, and Salmonellosis!

Bed Bugs — Parasitic pests trading disease for itchiness and annoyance that, once found a home in your furniture and nooks, aren’t going away anytime soon!

Mosquitos — The epitome of annoyance and itchiness, these flying pests always find their way in and could carry nasty problems like Malaria, Yellow Fever, or West Nile!

And, of course, there are a whole bunch of others from spiders and beetles to lizards and ants. At any given time there are countless bugs and other critters in your home’s proximity. You’d think you’d get quickly overrun… unless you do the following…

Smart Ways to Keep the Pests at Bay

We can’t realistically expect every pest blocked from entering our home. There are plenty of ways they can get in like them sneaking in our carried items to just buzzing through the window when it’s open. There are, however, plenty of ways you can mitigate their problems — and protect you and loved ones from diseases.

Not counting the “keep things clean”, here are some things you should consider:

Get the Pros — Moxie Pest Control can make quick work of an impending infestation before it gets out of control. If you’re seeing too many bugs coming in and “appearing” then you need to get the heavy hitters involved. Pro services have the right training and supplies to exterminate and keep pests at bay for months on end (giving you plenty of time to change some of the habits bringing them in).

Trim the Yard — Go throughout the yard and time back brush and build-up. This includes any plant(s) getting too close to the foundation of your home (giving critters an easy way to get inside). Try to keep about 1 – 3-foot spacing especially around the windows.

Regular, Skin-Friendly Washes — We’re quick to rush to the store to buy the nastiest can of bug spray. But, consider others in your home. It’s better to do regular linen, furniture, carpet washes with something safe for your health than the hail-Mary pest bombing. Try using eco-friendly treatments or natural pest control products.

Take Care of Fido — Regularly do checkups on your pets for fleas, ticks, and mites. They could easily track them in after a trip to the dog park or from a hike. Give them a good, thorough wash down after these big events. And, use drops and treatments to keep these nasty pests at bay.

Seal It Up — Use caulking and other sealants throughout the home to close up those nooks and crannies pests love living in. Start on the outside sealing the foundation, then make your way into the crawlspaces. Take this time to leave a few traps and repellents, too.

And, the common sense things like not picking up furniture on the side of the road. Or, leaving your windows and doors open (without a screen) even during those cool days. Take care of the pests as soon as they show and you shouldn’t have an infestation.

If it becomes too much then get in touch with the pros. Don’t let those critters run loose!

People often overlook purchase of a mattress thinking that this is nothing more than additional part of a household. In fact, some of us care so little about that they are willing to buy the first one they stumble upon. Needless to say, this is a bad approach.

The mattress will be your best friend in years to come. Whenever you’re tired after a long workday, it will provide comfort and support. This item is crucial for good night sleep which in turn is important for your well being and stress relief.

Nowadays, you can easily buy a mattress online. There are so many stores with quality goods, and you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home in order to purchase one. Still, there are certain things to keep in mind.

Like all other products, mattresses vary in terms of quality and pricing. They also have different features. In order to help you out in your quest for a perfect mattress, we’ve decided to write this short guide.

Picking the right product

The first thing that needs to be mentioned is that there are numerous types of mattresses.

When purchasing a new product, you have to decide which type of a mattress you need even before stepping into a store as there are big differences between various types of products.

Here are some of the most common types of mattresses and how they can help you:

Memory foam mattress-Type of a product that adapts to person’s shape. They are very popular nowadays and can be rather pricey depending on the quality.

Gel mattress-Specific thing about this item is that it is filled with gel. It can be placed within the support system, upholstery layers or both. There are big differences between various gel mattresses when it comes to heating and comfort.

Latex mattress-Latex can be placed in different parts of the mattress. It is usually based on plant or petroleum materials. It has great anti-allergic properties and doesn’t heat that much.

Innerspring mattress-When it comes to this item, we recognize two sub-products: mattresses that have one joint system (all springs move together) and mattress with individual springs (springs move separately). Spring mattresses are some of the oldest types of mattresses still being used today. The general rule is that a mattress is of a higher quality as a number of springs increases.

Pillow-top mattress-As the name implies; these items have additional upholstery level making them more comfortable. Various materials are used for its creation.

Hybrid mattress-If you’re looking for a combination of foam materials and springs, this will be an ideal product for you.

Airbed-A great thing about airbeds is that their firmness can be adjusted. By using a pump, you can decrease or increase the amount of air in a mattress fine-tuning it to your needs.

Waterbed-Somewhat of a novelty, waterbed has water within it.

There are so many differences between these types of mattress. However, it usually comes to one thing, and that is firmness.

Firmness is very important. Keep in mind that not everyone needs the same firmness of a mattress – requirements change based on the way you sleep, your body type, weight and size. When purchasing a mattress, you need to focus on finding the right item that will support your body.

Anti-allergic properties, as well as heating, can also play a role when making a decision.

Based on the way you’re sleeping, here are some recommendations:

Soft mattresses are ideal for people sleeping on their side

Medium soft can be great if you roll around in your sleep

The medium firm is good if you need additional lower back support and are sleeping on your back

A Firm mattress is great if you’re sleeping on your belly or if you have back issues

Price is another factor that always has to be considered

Price of a mattress is usually the reflection of its quality and longevity. If you buy an expensive mattress, it will likely last longer (although this isn’t always the case). No matter what you decide, it is better not to be stingy. Most people rarely change their mattress so having that in mind, it is much better to purchase something that will last for a much longer period of time and provide quality support for your back.

if you are still not sure what mattress is best for you check out Our Sleep Guide, which helps customers find the best mattresses and sleep products for the entire family. The site focuses on top quality and in-depth mattress reviews which help people choose the best sleep product for them.

If it seems like you are getting nowhere with your cleaning or that it is taking longer than you would like, then you need to get rid of some common cleaning mistakes that could be slowing everything down for you.

Using a Dirty Wipe for Glass

If you try to clean glass with a cloth, but you keep leaving streaks behind, then the problem is with your cloth. Make sure you start with a fresh cloth every time you go to clean a new pain of glass.

Using Old Rags

The rags you use to clean your car or dust furniture need to be clean ones. It’s tempting to use the same rag you have been using to conserve money, but you are better off buying disposable rags or just cleaning out the rag with some detergent or hot water to make it usable again.

Not Soaking Dishes

The time it takes to clean really dirty dishes could be better spent elsewhere if you just let the dishes presoak. Just put those nasty plates and pots in some hot, soapy water for 5-10 minutes, then come back and see how easily the grime starts to come off.

Using the Wrong Tools

You need the right cleaning tool for each job. The maids at DiamondClean recommend that you “don’t try to sweep a small room with a large broom”. Don’t try to vacuum with the wrong attachment. Find the right tool for every cleaning job and see how much faster your work goes. You may have to buy a few extra products, but it can be worth it to save some time.

Vacuuming with a Full Bag

Speaking of vacuuming, be sure to clean out the vacuum cleaner bag every so often. You should check it every time you plan to start vacuuming. If you clean it, the vacuum will be more powerful and leave less debris behind.

Overdoing the Detergent

You might think that using more detergent makes the works go faster, but that’s not the case every time. You can end up with a soapy residue on the clothes or dishes you are washing, so you may want to tone down the amount of detergent you use to get better results and spend less time washing off clean items.

Not Being Organized

You need to have a plan for where to put everything and how to manage your time. Clean each room in order and ensure that you clean in an orderly fashion to avoid going back and forth to the same areas with small loads and wasting your time.

Working from the Bottom Up

It might feel easier to start on the bottom and clean upwards, but when you do that, you can make some of the debris from up above fall on areas you already cleaned.

Cleaning When You Are Tired

You don’t want to save all your cleaning for the end of the day. Do a bit through the day so that you don’t have too much to do all at once at the end when you are already tired.

Scrubbing Every Stain

Not all stains are going come out by scrubbing them. In fact, you can make the stain worse. Know when to scrub and when to blot to get out stains more effectively.

What is a home warranty anyway?

A home warranty is a 12-month service agreement whereby a company meets the expenses of repairs or replacement of broken home systems and appliances. As a homeowner, various items in your house are likely to break at one time or another. However, if it’s covered by this policy you don’t have to worry since the company will promptly send a technician to handle the matter on your behalf.

Getting your in-house items insured

A warranty only applies for cases where damage has been caused due to regular wear and tear, or standard usage. Generally, it will cover major components in your home such as the HVAC, water heaters, electrical and plumbing among other systems.

Depending on your policy it might also include regular appliances like washers, refrigerators, stoves and dryers. Moreover, some plans permit you to buy optional add-on coverage for your swimming pool, spa, pumps, second refrigerator and so on.

How does it work?

When your home appliance breaks down unexpectedly, you’ll need to call your home warranty firm so that they can arrange an appointment with a certified, pre-screened service provider in your local area. Upon arrival of the licensed technician, they will review the situation and your coverage, then recommend the appropriate course of action to mend your appliance.

You’ll need to then pay a service call charge of up to $125 dollars, based on the kind of policy that you have taken. The rest of the expenses will fully be met by the home-warranty company.

When do you buy a home warranty?

A warranty can be bought when you first purchase your home, or at whichever stage of your ownership. Sometimes, relocating and adapting to a new environment can be stressful for you and the family. Nonetheless, knowing that your home items are fully covered by a warranty can help alleviate some of the worry.

Most warranties last for one year and are renewable on an annual basis. Depending on your service provider and locality, the cost of this policy can run up to $75 a month for a cover that includes various appliances and home systems. You can also add coverage for additional larger units like pools and spas. Companies like American Home Guardian have different plans for different needs.

How to keep your backyard always fun

Statistics show that around 5.1 million or 4% of homes in America have a pool, though the percentage might be higher in warmer states. While a pool is ideally meant to be a place of relaxation, if it develops a major technical problem, then it can rapidly become a headache. Not only will you be required to arrange for repairs, but you may have to spend on a sudden bill that can shatter your home budget and upset your plans.

However, if you are protected by a warranty, the outcome will be completely different. The burden of sudden, expensive repairs shall be lifted off your shoulders.

Studies show that many tepid-weather American states, where pools are more common, have soil conditions that are prone to shifting. Which is why residences in these states usually have foundation issues, and the outdoor pool isn’t immune to such problems.

You will only need to pay a small service call fee for the warranty provider to locate a suitable repairman, schedule the visit and cover most of the costs. It won’t be long until you are back to relaxing in the pool that you’ve invested a lot in. If you own a pool, a home warranty will definitely make your life much simpler when things go bad.

Protect yourself financially in uncertain times

A home warranty insures that you are financially safe if something ever breaks in your house. Most homeowners are familiar with the unplanned expenses of broken systems, repairing them can be quite costly if you don’t have any warranty plan.

However, with this policy you can easily meet the costs of fixing or even replacing a major appliance that has been damaged.

Buying a warranty is entirely optional and is a sure way to protect stuff that you’ve spent your hard-earned cash on, there are different packages offered by companies depending on your budget and needs.

To conclude, you should consider getting a home warranty for your family in order to avoid the inconvenience of costly appliance/system repairs and replacement.

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